The economic disparities we see today are caused by decades of poor planning and bad policy decisions that are bound up in the histories of racism, regressive taxation and exploitative banking practices. Carroll is fighting for policies and practices that create and sustain economic resilience for the many who have been left in dire straits by unregulated market forces.

In Oakland there are more vacant homes than unsheltered people. That’s because Oakland‘s elected leaders have allowed the “free market” to make our housing policy decisions for us and as long as there is a profit motive to deprive people of shelter, this housing crisis will continue. At the root of Carroll’s vision for addressing Oakland’s housing crisis is a shift from a financialized housing system to housing as a human right.

Low-income residents and communities of color have been disproportionately exposed to environmental hazards while also being prevented from benefiting from environmental amenities, such as parks, wetlands and forests. Carroll has spoken to one too many families impacted by these harms to not make environmental design and justice a priority.

Strong family and community institutions supported by economic opportunity, access to basic resources, and mental wellness are better crime prevention measures than the fear of punitive policing. We have to change the focus from fighting crime to changing the conditions that got us here in the first place. Carroll works to build new types of social institutions and safety nets based in a care-taking community.